Thursday, January 27, 2011

First of a few "announces"


I have been planning this for a while, but I wanted to share a little bit of what I've been up to while not crafting.

This will be a sorta series, going through the first or so, but I had to share!


More on this as I finish, but look for more later. Thoughts?

.. And on a completely random note, Izzy just decided to bring me a battery. Wonder if she knew that my camera has eaten another pair?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Another pair!

Had to try out another pair..


"Carnival" by Yarnplayer, in size 20 Lizbeth, and with size 10/0 seed beads and size 6 and 4 mm glass pearls.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Valentine Dream - Part Two

Finally finished. Sorta.


All that's left is to block the pendant and to attach to a jump ring/chain.

Happy tatting, all! ^^

Valentine Dream - Part One

Heading to bed in a few minutes, but I thought I'd share a small bit of tatting before I go.

First off - the bookmarks. These are blocked (I just need to clip off the ends from the Tardis):

Patterns are Flower Bookmark/Edging, but by Sabrina Carden-Madden, and Tardis Bookmark by Anne Bruvold (links in last post). I'm working on a second for my roommate, and possibly a third (and fourth) for my sister and a friend from school.

Also, I have only had enough time to complete one, but this is where the title for this morning's post comes from:

"Dream" by Yarnplayer. This is tatted in size 20 thread with both 11/0 and 8/0 (I think!) seed bead and glass teardrops. This isn't blocked (as you can see by the middle teardrop,) but I think it looks nice already!


The ear wires are a little on the tight side, but they're sterling. Made a special trip to Hobby Lobby for all but the thread, and I'm really pleased at how they are going to turn out!

I hope to have the second one finished before tonight (after work), and possibly a pendant to go with it. This is my "Valentine Dream" because I'm hoping that I'll be able to wear them when M and I (possibly) go out of town that week! (fingers crossed!!)

Oh, **nts: The top ring is R(8), not S/R (4-3/4-3). Just to remember! lol I mis-counted at the last minute!

Happy Tatting, everyone! ^^

Thursday, January 20, 2011

More Tatting..

And where I had to stop because of Willow! lol

Also, all of these aren't blocked yet -- I like to have a few to block together, instead of having only one. Which leads me to the question -- how do YOU prefer to block? Wet block? Steam block? No block? I'm a steamer -- Love my iron!

First off, this is the bookmark I should have complete soon:

I'm not 100% sold just yet, but I think it's getting better the further I go. One and a half repeats to go now, but Willow decided to demand my attention! Pattern is Flower Bookmark/Edging, but by Sabrina Carden-Madden. This will need some serious blocking when it's done -- its curling back on itself!

Also, since I got the split chain down, I made the Tardis bookmark:

Which my roommate has already said she wanted one. Pattern by Anne Bruvold, and was interesting to do!

Next up, I tried these earrings..

Only got on done. The first image is what I assume was supposed to be the back, while the bottom one is the front. It was awkward, and I plan on giving them another go soon. I think I may have missed something while tatting these.. Pattern by Iris Niebach. I remember a bunch of people doing a tat along with this pattern, but I was still working on learning how to work with beads at the time and didn't join..

Will share when these are blocked/re-tried. 'Till then, happy tatting!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A First..


I have been watching the progress of this pattern for a bit, and was ecstatic to see it released. So I rushed home only to fall asleep! ^_^6 So, when I woke up this morning, I loaded two new Areo shuttles and started.

What makes this a first?


XD My first ever split chain where I didn't throw it across the room while screaming at it!

Thank-you, Fox, for such a cute (and fun!) pattern!

Pattern: Abigail by Fox at Tat-ology
Thread: Lizbeth Boysenberry Dk, size 20

In which Gandalf meets Balthazar

I have a new project that I'm working on, but I thought I'd share from completed projects.

I was trolling through Ravelry the other night for some wash cloth patterns (a first for me), when I found this adorable knitted owl cloth. I started the full-size, but then decided to rip it out and make the baby size.

It's so cute and adorable! This picture doesn't do it justice, but I think I may have to outline it in some floss. My sister got the pattern right away, but since I have made her a set of fingerless mitts in the same pattern.

Also, my roommate has decided she needed a bookmark like I have made myself, but a little longer and in specific colors.

Quick poll: which comic book hero do these colors remind you of?


Jon's pattern, again. This time, I managed to get it right without any stitch mistakes! All that's left is a tassel (when I showed her the picture, she asked where it was). Any suggestions on what color to use?

And then, the reason for the post's title:


Free-tatting.com again. I started this while watching Lord of the Rings and finished while watching Sorcerer's Apprentice. After the first round, I had "They're taking the hobbits to Isengard" stuck in my head.

Happy tatting, all! ^^

Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Importance of Blocking

They aren't fully dry, but are close enough to show (plus I am impatient! lol)

First off, the ever-important 'before' shot:

All were kind of twisty and cupping in some way. I'm a very tight tatter; try as I may to not tatt so tight, it never works out for me. There's three different motives in here, so let's start with the rounds, shall we?

Tatted Motiff #12, from Free-Tatting.com. I was able to do both centers with thread left over from another project (I think it was the bookmark, but I'm not too sure), so I decided to do two of them. The fully solid one was by the pattern, with how the second round interlocks with the first -- two rings through the inner chains. The second is my own interpretation, which I think would look a little better with a different variegated thread so the deep purples don't intermingle with each other.

Next up, we have the square:
This is going to be part of a larger project that will end up on my wall in the bedroom. This is Tatted Motiff #2 from the same site. More on this as I get them complete; I haven't fully decided on the layout just yet.

And finally, the earrings:


Tatted Earrings #4. These were a bit interesting to tatt in that they were done in three rounds without cutting between. I carried thread through the top most rings to add a bit of stability to them, so they are a bit thicker than the others. I have no idea where I would wear them, but I still thought they were interesting!

Going back to tatting now. I'm amazed at how much I've accomplished in such a short time!

Also, all these are in the same Lizbeth colors as I have been tatting with this week. Had them in my bag, so they were easy to get! lol

Happy tatting!

Poor Willow!

Just wanted to show everyone what we're currently going through in regards to the snow. I do have some tatting, but they're not quite ready to be shared (they're blocking and need to finish drying), so hopefully soon I'll have another post ready.

Right now, we still have about three inches of snow on the ground with a quarter inch of ice on top of that. It's super slick, as Willow can tell you:



She really doesn't like the cold, especially after she broke her leg when she was a puppy. Last time it snowed, I had to keep her laying down that last day to keep a warm compress on the leg! She doesn't let it hinder her, as she's one of the fastest little dogs I have ever seen!

I also spent some time on Tuesday taking pictures around the farm.


This is the first time in memory that I can remember the ponds freezing over. They're no where near frozen enough to be safe enough to walk on, but it's still surprising!

Also, since this is now mostly ice, we have a lot of these hanging out.


And, just to show how it looks outside my door..


Everything is so glossy, it's making it hard to drive just from the glare!

Also, earlier this week, Izzy and Gwinnie styled their PJ's at Mom and Dad's:

Yes, Gwinnie is half-buried in the couch. She slid down there while sitting next to Ab and seemed to enjoy it! Rather than climb out, she decided to keep chewing on her bone!

Also, from Christmas night..
Willow had fun getting covered in snow.

Hope everyone is staying warm! Happy tatting!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Snow Day - Part Two

I don't have any snow pictures to show, as it was way too cold for me to stay outside for long. I'll try to get some ice pictures on the way home from work tomorrow, if I'm even able to get out of the driveway!

I spent most of the day tatting, but had to put it away for a little bit because of getting a headache. I did manage to finish two projects, as seen below:

These are the Overlapping Chains Bookmark and the Featherline Snowflake, both by Jon. However, now that I see it on the computer, you can't really see the snowflake all that well..

That's better.

I made a few mistakes near the end and didn't notice until I had already steam blocked.See the top most arm? There is a missing ring up there...

And then the bookmark. I know it's small, but it was my first time doing the pattern(and I still managed to make a mistake around the time my dad got home), but it's not that noticeable, is it?

And the reason its so small?

Mass markets fit into my purse so much easier than the full versions!

Both were tatted in Lizbeth size 20, in Dusty Rose Lt, Spring Garden, Antique Violet, and Boysenberry Dk.

I have more on my "to tatt" list, so keep an eye out!

Happy tatting! ^^

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Tatting and Snow

Seeing as we are currently under a threat of sleet, snow, and ice, I couldn't resist (even while hacking up a lung)


This is Jon's Quantiesque snowflake, done in size 20 Lizbeth Vineyard Harvest and Boysenberry Dark. In order to get the colors to swap like they do in the last round required a SLT instead of the SS, as was written in the pattern.

I love this pattern! This is my second -completed- snowflake, and I love how the colors turned out!

I have some more ideas on what to do with what is left on the shuttles, but I need to sketch it out first before trying it out.

This year, my objective is to only have two projects going at once and, once finished, to actually finish in the ends and block as needed.

Have a few other plans, but those will be shared later. Happy Tatting, everyone! And be safe to those who have already gotten snow! (as of now, we haven't even had any rain! lol)

And, just because I wanted to share..

Taken Christmas night, after it started snowing.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Well..

So much for surprises this past week!

I promise, I did have a few lined up in a teaser-style update, but unfortunately I came down with bronchitis and haven't had the energy to work on any of it. Sorry all! The surprises will have to wait until I have the energy to work on anything again.

However, I have managed a little bit of tatting, but that will have to wait until tomorrow as I've suddenly realized I've misplaced not only my phone but my camera as well.

o.o

I hate being sick. ;-;

I'll try to update tomorrow with pictures, but I can't make any promises. According to the weatherman, we can expect some more snow in Hotlanta and further North to my home. Gotta go and get groceries before we get snowed in!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy Newyear!!

Though our New Year has officially decided to be gray, I wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year!

This also ends my attempt at a hiatus. ^_^ I couldn't stay away from the keyboard, and even though I did blog, I nearly got everything done!

I do have a new tatting pattern (or two) that I am currently trying to work out to show. Here's what they look like so far:



Wow. Didn't know my flash could turn purple into blue! Both are using daisy techniques, with dimpled rings for the hair piece. I'm really liking the hair piece; I just need to finish it, but couldn't wait to show!

Which reminds me.. Has anyone ever done a dimpled split ring before? It was interesting figuring out how to do them without going online and looking them up.

2011 is going to be a year of changes! Look for a surprise in the next week or so! ^^